House of Representatives Unanimously Ratifies Seven International Bilateral and Multilateral Instruments and Postpones the Decision on Two Others
The House of Representatives adopted on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, by unanimity of votes, seven Government bills ratifying a number of international instruments. The adoption took place during a legislative plenary sitting chaired by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Rachid Talbi El Alami, and attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita.
The ratified instruments fall within the scope of implementing the high Royal directives concerning the consolidation of the cooperation and partnership ties linking the Kingdom of Morocco to several friendly and brotherly countries and the entrenchment of the position of the Kingdom at the regional and international levels.
Here is a list of the ratified instruments:
- Government Bill 55.22 ratifying the Agreement in the field of air transport between the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, concluded in Montreal on September 28, 2022
- Government Bill 56.22 ratifying the Statute of the African Minerals Development Centre, adopted in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) on January 31, 2016
- Government Bill 59.22 ratifying the Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco and the International Center for Migration Policy Development on the establishment of an ICMPD Representation in the Kingdom of Morocco, concluded in Rabat on November 10, 2022
- Government Bill 62.22 ratifying the Revised Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas, and Degrees in Higher Education in the Arab States, adopted in Paris on February 2, 2022, and signed by the Kingdom of Morocco on February 2, 2022
- Government Bill 63.22 ratifying the General Convention on the privileges and immunities of the Organization of African Unity, adopted in Accra (Ghana) on October 25, 1965
- Government Bill 64.22 ratifying the Cooperation Agreement in the field of merchant marine between the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Government of the Republic of Djibouti, concluded in Rabat on November 14, 2022
- Government Bill 14.23 ratifying the Statute of the Labor Center of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, adopted by the 43rd Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Tashkent (the Republic of Uzbekistan) on October 18-19, 2016.
The first bilateral Agreement with the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the field of air transport, concluded in Montreal on September 28, 2022, defines the rights granted by the two parties to the air transport companies designated by each party. The rights include the right to cross the airspace without landing, the right to stop for commercial objectives, and the right to board and disembark passengers, luggage, cargo, and mail following the conditions defined in the Agreement Appendix.
The second Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Government of the Republic of Djibouti in the field of merchant marine, concluded in November 2022, stipulates that each party commits to grant the ships, staff, goods, and passengers of the other party the same treatment given to its ships.
As for the four regional instruments, the first covers the privileges and immunities of the Organization of African Unity and the African Union, adopted in Accra (Ghana) in 1965. The Convention determines the measures and modalities related to the business of the various bodies and centers that fall under the African Union, their assets, and their officials. The Convention also defines all the immunities and privileges that must be granted to the representatives of States and the personnel and experts of the African Union during the performance of their missions in the Member States.
As for the Statute of the African Minerals Development Centre, adopted in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) on January 31, 2016, the accession of the Kingdom of Morocco to this Statute falls within the scope of the efforts of our country to support sustainable development, access to energy, develop resources, and build capacities. The Statute aims to coordinate and oversee the implementation of the African vision of mining and its action plan to enable the minerals sector to assume its mission in contributing to the Continent's development. The signature and accession of the Kingdom of Morocco to these two instruments are accompanied by a declaration stating that the ratification must in no way be understood or interpreted as a recognition by the Kingdom of Morocco of any act, fact, situation, or entity that is not recognized by the Kingdom of Morocco or that might undermine its interests.
The Revised Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas, and Degrees in Higher Education in the Arab States lays down the general conditions for the recognition of higher education degrees and diplomas, and urges States to adapt their national legislation with its provisions and to take the necessary measures for coordination at national, bilateral, and multilateral levels.
The last regional instrument concerns the Statute of the Labor Center of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, adopted by the 43rd Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Tashkent (the Republic of Uzbekistan) on October 18-19, 2016. The Statute aims to create a center for developing practical projects and field strategies. It also seeks to support the initiative of the Member States and accompany them through applying legal mechanisms linked to labor, employment, and social protection.
Concerning multilateral agreements, the first is the Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco and the International Center for Migration Policy Development on the establishment of a representation of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development in the Kingdom of Morocco, signed in Rabat on November 10, 2022. Within this framework, the Center works to set up projects and programs in the main areas of common interest that concern the development and consolidation of the Kingdom's capacities, and to provide the necessary advisory support and technical assistance in this field.
With regard to Government Bill 76.19 ratifying the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement on the Exchange of Country-by-Country Reports, signed by the Kingdom of Morocco on June 25, 2019, and Government Bill 77.19 ratifying the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement on Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information, signed by the Kingdom of Morocco on June 25, 2019, the House has decided to postpone their examination and resubmit them to the Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Islamic Affairs, and Moroccan Expatriates Committee, pending a decision on several observations concerning the interests of Moroccan expatriates.